Pop star's brother jumps to his death

The solicitor brother of a chart-topping pop star has committed suicide by throwing himself from the top of a cathedral.

Robert Broudie, whose brother Ian Broudie fronts the Lightning Seeds, leapt to his death from the belltower of Liverpool's Anglican cathedral.

Police said the 50-year-old had gone to the cathedral around 4pm on Monday and hid inside the building.

He later climbed the 331-ft bell tower of the cathedral and entered a parapet at the top of the huge tower before jumping.

His body was discovered at 2am on Tuesday after firefighters were called in to recover it from the roof of the main entrance.

Mr Broudie, who was being treated for depression at the Priory clinic, was a controversial figure in Liverpool's legal community.

He first rose to prominence in the 1980s representing members of the black community in Toxteth after the 1982 riots.

His reputation was tarnished in 1997 after he lost a tribunal involving a former employee, Sheena Khan who claimed sexual harrassment and discrimination.

Miss Khan, then 29, said he pestered her for a relationship, bought her gifts and kissed her at a social function. The tribunal awarded her £3,000.

However, Miss Khan herself was later jailed for six months for forging a signature on a witness statement used at the tribunal, although the original tribunal was not overturned.

In a further blow to his reputation, Broudie was fined 2004 by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal and fined £5000 in case involving a woman with whom he had a sexual relationship - although details of the case have never been revealed as the hearing was held in private 'to protect innocent third parties'.

Even the official written findings of the case, normally published eight weeks after the hearing have not been released to the public.

Instead they will be filed confidentially with the Law Society's offices. Broudie was also ordered to pay costs in the case which are still to be assessed.

Liverpool's leading lawyer, Rex Makin explained that Mr Broudie had suffered from depression since the death of his sister, Sharon, in May last year.

He said: 'It is a matter of great sadness when something like this happens. It is tragic.

'He was always pushing for a great story, now he has gone and made his own.'

Solicitor Paul Thompson, a partner in the legal firm RM Broudie and Company, said the entire office was in a state of shock.

'He said: 'Rob had been ill for some time. This is a terrible tragedy. He was the most able, committed, and conscientious lawyer I have ever known.

'He had a national reputation for fighting fearlessly on behalf of all those he represented.'

No members of his family were available for comment. His funeral at a Jewish synagogue in Liverpool is expected to be conducted on Wednesday.

Ian Broudie, 48, had UK number one hits with the Lightning Seeds at the time of Euro 96 and at the 1998 World Cup with the song 'Three Lions'.

Robert Broudie's sister, Sharon, 44, a community worker, became ill in February 2005 and died three months later. She left behind three children, 17-year-old Josh 15-year-old daughter Bonnie and Theo, eight.